Happy Happiness Happens Month!
This observance is the chance to celebrate “happy” for 30 days. Happiness can be elusive but also taken for granted. This month is a chance to “pay attention” to what makes YOU happy. Is it a walk in the park with a loved one? A little “retail therapy” at your favorite bookstore?
Creating the Happiness Habit is also about taking the time to figure out how you can help others as well. We are social creatures who are hardwired to help our community.
Making a difference and sharing a smile isn't difficult so ask yourself, what can I do to share some happiness with those around me?
What if you held the door and greeted someone with a smile today? It might be the only positive contact that they have all day. What if the extra groceries you bought as a gift for the new neighbor ensured that a little girl doesn’t go to bed hungry tonight? What if that class you taught helps a young mom stay home with her baby and still pay bills? What if that book you read to your class or family helps them see life through someone else's eyes?
Let's look at some beautiful books for kids that celebrate happiness.
Erica at What do we do All Day has a great list of 15 Smile-Inducing Children's Books about Happiness and Joy.
Deedee from Make A Way Media works with people struggling with the pursuit of happiness on a daily basis. As a former CPS works and current family therapist (as well as being a CEO, author, and mom!), she has pulled together some wonderful Kidlit Books for National Happiness Happens Month.
Here are her recommendations for picture books that can help to cultivate memorable moments and pockets of happiness in your child's day.
Love! Being loved makes us feel happy. GIVING love is also over-the-moon rewarding. Jodie from Growing Book by Book has a great list of picture books about LOVE.
One More Thing: If you are feeling a little flustered and distracted and that is robbing you of your happiness, take a break from technology: My body begins to rebel if I stay sitting at my computer for longer than an hour. I have friends whose relationship was in crisis until they vowed to drastically reduce screen and Smartphone time and greatly increase their one-on-one time that included prayer and being outside in nature together. Please, please, put down your device, look at the world and the people around you…really look at them. We live in such a magical place and are surrounded by the wisest, coolest people ever. Do something to discover that today.
Keep Calm and Read On!
Rebecca “Becky” Flansburg is an author, freelance writer, and project manager for the non-profit online children’s literacy initiative, Multicultural Children’s Book Day/ #ReadYourWorld. Join the celebration! Our 9th annual celebration will take place on January 28, 2022. For more information, visit Multicultural Children’s Book Day on the web.
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